No One Is Illegal On Stolen Land

Momii Palapaz

August 13, 2025

“When you see something happening to someone who is being attacked, sooner or later it will be coming to you. The attacks we are having now is not only about immigrants but about class. It now affects anglo americans who are middle americans and lower class,” said Manuel de Paz-East Bay Sanctuary Covenant.

American citizen, Birthright citizenship, alien, illegal alien, alien enemy, undocumented, temporary protective status, Bracero program, amnesty, dreamers, permanent resident, H1-B visa, immigrant, emigrant, migrant,

All these categories are racist. It purposely compares and divides. It is used to dehumanize us and distract us from the greed of capitalism. If the centuries of US imperialism created turmoil, war, death and displacement were not history, we wouldn’t be here today in crisis. Today, millions of people crossing false borders are being harassed, and even kidnapped by the government, without justifiable purpose. Millions of residents in the US are being labeled criminals not only because of skin color, but to take away more of poor people’s land.

ICE Out Of Dublin, CA

“They are fleeing the wars and we’re involved in that war. We’re involved in that war, if not boots on the ground. They’re (migrants) looking for a better life, like what the pilgrims did and all the other Europeans, escaping poverty, famine, religious persecution.” said Board of Directors Kim De OCampo of the Sogorea’Te Land Trust. If US imperialism wasn’t causing wars and invading countries, people wouldn't be forced to migrate here.

US Concentration Camps

The policies that are being used to arrest, detain and deport were used on my family 85 years ago under the Alien Enemy Act of 1798. In 1941, on December 23rd, my father’s father, my grandfather, was violently thrust into an FBI vehicle.

My father, Takeshi, had just turned 21 years old the month before. Rikito was a few years older, James a few years younger and Tomo was 16 years old. Four children and Matsu, my grandmother, watched as FBI men interrogated my grandfather. Then they ransacked their home and belongings looking for evidence of sabotage. My grandfather, born in Japan, was a journalist, a newspaper man and associated with his homeland’s government of Emperor Hirohito.

After much cruel treatment, grandfather Kizaemon Ikken Momii was taken away that night. He never saw his wife, my grandmother, alive again. In 1942, February 19th, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. This order stated that all persons of Japanese ancestry, even citizens, were to report to designated sites throughout the west coast. There was a global real estate war going on and Japanese in Amerikkka were the targets of raids, kidnapping, racist mobs and incarceration.

In Yelamu/San Francisco, one of the sites for rounding up Japanese people was Kimmon Gakuen, a school in the Japanese community, which still exists today. It is on the same street where my father’s family was living. 8,000 Japanese Americans and their families were bussed to the Tanforan Racetrack. It was made into an assembly center, fully equipped with horse shit, hay and crude dehumanizing accommodations.

Executive Order 9066, 1942 i.d. Tags

 ICE OUT OF DUBLIN, CA.

After a month or two, all the families were railroaded to various sites on the west and midwest of turtle island/usa. For 2 plus days, without any knowledge of where they were going, my dad’s mother and brothers rode with shades permanently drawn. They met their destination in Utah at a newly constructed concentration camp called Topaz. 11,212 people were processed into this prison camp. My grandmother, Matsu died in 1943, 45 years old, while incarcerated at Topaz Concentration Camp. She had a treatable condition, but medical support was not available.

Ikken was railroaded to New Mexico, then Louisiana and ended up in Kooskia, Idaho, at a prisoner of war camp. His sons wrote letters to the government begging for their father to be let out as his one son, Tomo, not yet 21 years old, was still alone in Topaz. Even though there was no evidence of sabotage, it took over 2 years for him to finally be released. This terrifying experience was a dark cloud over the whole family.

Fear, Division and Racism

“This administration wants chaos, wants terror, wants us to lose hope. We are continuing to fight until we win. One of the wins is permanent residency. We are resilient and fight for dignity and respect for the communities. We cannot give up the value of our community. “ said a member of the National Temporary Protective Status organization.

Kim, a Tulolumne Mewuk PPL continues to fight the racist dialogue and images, “We were boots on the ground. We were removing racist ass Indian mascots from public schools…got rid of in Vallejo, the Vallejo Apaches. Ain’t no Apaches in Vallejo. We got rid of the racist Washington football team. Always remember the herstory history and all of what we did because of that racism that continues. As organizers, activists & community members, we know it is up to us to fight back against Trump’s racist draconian Administration. We will not support this travesty, we will not go back to oppressive policies of the past!!! No more stolen families!!! Sanctuary for our families!!!”